Jefferson and Socrates' Idea of Democracy Thomas Jefferson's idea of democracy was one in which people had the right to question the government. Just as Socrates' mission was that of questioning everything and everyone. Socrates educated many and created followers intent on continuing Socrates' work. In effect this is quite similar if not the same as Jefferson's ideas that the people have the right to alter or abolish a government if it violates them. Socrates believed that "The unexamined life is not worth living.", similarly one of Jefferson's ideas was basically that the unexamine